-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The last time Ben Affleck played a superhero , the world cried .

The year was 2003 , and the movie was `` Daredevil '' -- a Hollywood fail that even Affleck has insinuated he 'd rather forget .

So is it any wonder that within hours of Warner Bros. announcing the actor was going to play Batman in the upcoming `` Man of Steel '' sequel , Twitter immediately tried to recast the part using the hashtag #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck . -LRB- Suggestions have included `` the drunken hobo who lives under the overpass , '' the dog from `` Air Bud '' and `` Manti Te'o 's girlfriend . '' -RRB-

But in the eyes of some critics , the 41-year-old Oscar winner may not be such a bad choice .

Let 's not forget that Affleck has turned a career corner since his `` annus horribilis '' -- the year that sparked `` Daredevil '' and that other movie that had film fans writing him off , `` Gigli . ''

He recovered from that valley slowly but surely , and went on to direct and star in standouts like 2010 's `` The Town '' and 2012 's `` Argo , '' the latter of which won an Oscar for best picture .

From actor to auteur : Ben Affleck 's career trajectory

Knowing that , Yahoo! Movies thinks `` we owe Ben the benefit of the doubt '' given that `` the guy has made quite the comeback lately . ''

And there 's also the possibility that he 's learned from his mistakes with `` Daredevil '' -- the faults of which , notes CraveOnline , do n't rest completely on Affleck 's shoulders .

Now that he 's an older , more seasoned actor who 's shown himself to be a wizard in the director 's chair , maybe `` Man of Steel 2 '' director Zack Snyder 's assessment is n't so far off :

`` Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry -LRB- Cavill -RRB- 's Superman , '' Snyder said in a statement . `` He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter , but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne . ''

If anything , says The Wall Street Journal , Affleck is `` too perfect for the role . ''

`` He has it all , '' says WSJ 's Michael Calia . `` The shoulder-heavy jock 's physique , the chiseled facial features set to brood , the experience playing a tough but haunted leading character . It 's yet another example of competent and professional , if uninspired , Batman casting . ... -LRB- It 's -RRB- better than Hollywood forcing another nondescript young hunk on us . ''

Film School Rejects disagrees with those who call the decision ho-hum , arguing that `` Affleck as Batman in ` Man of Steel 2 ' is actually some pretty exciting casting news . ... -LRB- A -RRB- fter more than a year of rumors and speculation that he would be directing their Justice League ensemble -LRB- movie -RRB- and/or possibly playing the Caped Crusader in it , this seems to be an equally interesting announcement . ''

Affleck as Batman ? ` No , nyet , never ! '

From the perspective of the studio , Warner Bros. -LRB- which shares a parent company with CNN -RRB- , Affleck 's casting is `` a major win , '' The Wrap says . The move not only shows that the now-back-on-top star `` still has faith in the studio , '' but it also paves the way `` for several potential superhero collaborations . ''

That idea is probably making several Bruce Wayne fans cringe as they hurry to sign a petition begging Warner Bros. to drop Affleck from the role .

But maybe , just maybe , Affleck wo n't be as horrible as everyone is anticipating . After all , he 's proven us wrong before .

@highlight

Casting of Ben Affleck as Batman has sparked immense backlash

@highlight

Some industry observers think it 's not such a bad move

@highlight

He 's made a career turnaround since he starred in 2003 's `` Daredevil ''